Indians split with Washington teams

Tribe downs R.A. Long on road; falls to Kelso

The Tribe handled R.A. Long in Washington on Monday night in a 64-57 win, but couldnt keep pace with Kelso on Wednesday night in Scappoose in a 65-55 loss.

The Indians were also happy to welcome back Zach Smith to the fold. He sat out the first six games of the season, but once he got rolling on Wednesday he was a dominant force. Smith scored 24 points against Kelso, including 14 in the last quarter with two threes.

Tufts said it was good to have Smith back and playing. Hes been chomping at the bit and ready to play. Now we have to adjust to playing with him. Well have some growing pains, but well get there. Sam Padgett is also back close to 100 percent. Were coming together.

Monday at R.A. Long the Indians rolled out to an early lead, 20-13, and had an 11-point margin by halftime, 37-26. The Monarchs whittled a bit off the Tribe lead in last two periods, but the Indians would still finish with a seven-point lead.

Paul Revis lead Scappoose in scoring with 18 points, while Mitchell Davis had 17 and Taylor Loss was also in double figures with 11.

The Kelso squad came out hot in the first period, posted a 9-4 lead by midpoint, and had a 10-0 run that gave them a 21-6 advantage. Only a three by Ryan Henness at the end stopped the bleeding. Kelso had four dead-on threes in the first quarter.

Kelso shot the ball especially well in the first quarter, Tufts said. We got down 15 and then Henness hit the three at the buzzer. We played them pretty even the rest of the way.

The Indians would never lead again in the contest after the first period, but they would get the game back into single digits several times. Henness sparked Scappoose in the second periodhe completed a three-point play, hit two free throws, and had a field goal. Revis hit a three at the buzzer to cut the lead to eight.

Kelso had six quick points to start the third period and went up by 14, but Smith made three field goals, and the Tribe went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead back to eight. Loss added two field goals and a three to make it seven. Kelso fired back, but another Henness three at the buzzer cut the margin back to nine.

While Smith would connect on two threes and score the first 14 points of the final frame for the Tribe, the Hilanders were solid at the free throw line. They sank 15 of 19 in the final period, and 18 of 23 for the game. Scappoose would have just 11 shots from the charity stripe, hitting seven.

Mondays win in Longview was the first of the season for the Tribe, but the team is showing marked improvement.

The Scappoose boys and the girls were to travel to Taft Friday, Dec. 21 but school was cancelled in Taft and the games postponed. Tufts said they hope to make them up later in the season. The Indians had a practice Friday night, and then four days off over Christmas. They head to the three-day Sisters Tournament at the end of the week for Thursday, Friday and Saturday games. The Tribe faces Sisters in their first game and then will play the winner or loser of the Ridgeview-Creswell game, depending on which teams win and lose.